Top Week 1 Performances from North Jersey
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Week 2 of games starts tonight. Let’s take a look at the players who have made a splash in the North in Week 1 by leading their teams to undefeated starts. Week 2 starts tonight, and we will be watching.…
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Continue ReadingWeek 2 of games starts tonight. Let’s take a look at the players who have made a splash in the North in Week 1 by leading their teams to undefeated starts. Week 2 starts tonight, and we will be watching.
Alyssa Craigwell Alyssa Craigwell 5'9" | SF Secaucus | 2024 State NJ of Secaucus has picked up where she left as the Patriots look to get back to the Group 2 State Championship where they fell short to New Providence last season. Craigwell has averaged 21ppg with 2 3-pointers per game, just under 10rpg and 3+spg while leading her team to a 3-0 start. She is an outstanding athlete who can play inside and out and gets out quick in transition. Playing Robin to Craigwell’s Batman has been freshman Olivia Buckingham Olivia Buckingham 5'7" | SG Secaucus | 2027 State NJ who is averaging 20ppg and has hit 14 3-pointers in 3 games to go along with 2+spg.
Siena Shuster Siena Shuster 5'11" | PF Wayne Hills | 2024 State NJ is averaging 21ppg, 9+rpg and 7spg leading the Patriots to a 3-0 start. The senior averaged 15ppg and 10rpg as a junior and is making a run at 1,000 career points. She faces a big test today against Morristown and Northeastern commit Maya Summerville Maya Summerville 6'0" | SF Morristown | 2024 State NJ .
Layla Grace Giordano Layla Grace Giordano 5'11" | PF Old Tappan | 2024 State NJ and sister Maya Giordano Maya Giordano C Old Tappan | 2024 State NJ have led the Old Tappan to a 4-0 start. Layla leads the team with 15ppg. Her only struggle was against Ramapo’s Toni Pernetti Toni Pernetti 5'11" | SF Ramapo | 2026 State NJ who absolutely shut her down with the best individual defensive performance we’ve seen in North Jersey so far this season, but the Golden Knights still managed to win with great team defense and timely scoring. Maya is 2nd on the team with 13+ppg and their combo of size and athleticism is a tough matchup for any team in the Big North.
Marissa LaVerghetta Marissa LaVerghetta PG Mahwah | 2024 State NJ has led Mahwah to their 1st 3-0 start since 2018 with 15ppg. The Thunderbirds are not a 1-woman show however, as freshman Harper Cohn Harper Cohn 5'4" | PG Mahwah | 2027 State NJ ‘s 13+ppg and Ava Comer Ava Comer 5'4" | SG Mahwah | 2026 State NJ ‘s 10ppg round out a dangerous trio with Cohn and Comer each averaging 2 3-pointers per game. The 12/26 matchup with Secaucus will be a great test for Mahwah.
Sophomore Charlotte Auty Charlotte Auty 5'9" | PF Ramsey | 2026 State NJ has replaced the scoring of graduated senior Amanda Rosen leading them to a 3-0 start. Auty’s 19ppg and 12rpg along with 11ppg and 9rpg from fellow sophomore Kylie Bahn the young Rams are playing good basketball for Coach Royce. Auty is also averaging 3 3-pointers per game.
Kate Walsh Kate Walsh 5'7" | SG Westwood | 2024 State NJ is averaging 23+ppg, 6rpg and 3+spg while leading Westwood to a 2-0 start. She should easily hit the 1,000-career point mark by February. The Cardinals will get a good test vs Wayne Hills on 12/23 and Ridgewood on 12/27.
Rhaiyna Brown Rhaiyna Brown CG Timothy Christian | 2027 State NJ has led Timothy Christian to a 3-0 start with 21ppg, 5rpg, 4+spg and 3+apg. She has formed a great duo with Leah McNulty Leah McNulty CG Timothy Christian | 2026 State NJ who is averaging 11ppg, 8rpg, 5+apg and 3+spg. They will take on 2-0 Dunellen on 12/22 who is led by Wendy Woll Wendy Woll PF Dunellen | 2026 State NJ and her 19+ppg, 6+rpg and 4spg.
UMass commit Taylor Derkack Taylor Derkack 6'0" | SF Colonia | 2024 State NJ is a one-woman game wrecker. She is chasing 2,000-career points. She does everything her team asks of her at both ends and has led Colonia to a 3-0 start with 17+ppg, 9+spg, 8+rpg and 4+apg. The additional firepower of junior Isabel Gidado Isabel Gidado 5'6" | SG Colonia | 2025 NJ ‘s 13+ppg, 4+rpg, 2+spg and 2apg along with freshman Hailey Conklin Hailey Conklin 5'5" | CG Colonia | 2027 State NJ ‘s 11+ppg, 4rpg and 3+spg have the Patriots humming along into a 12/23 matchup with 3-0 Madison whose star Charlotte Tuhy Charlotte Tuhy 6'0" | SF Madison | 2025 State NJ just went over 1,000 career points 3 games into her junior year while averaging 12rpg while senior Beau Braverman Beau Braverman PG Madison | 2024 State NJ is averaging 12+ppg. Unfortunately for Madison they run into the top team in NJ on 12/22 when they play Morris Catholic.
North Plainfield is 3-0 and the leader for them has been sophomore Layla Gutierrez Layla Gutierrez 5'4" | PG North Plainfield | 2026 State NJ and her 13+ppg, 4+apg and 4+spg.
At 3-0, Woodbridge High School has been led by sophomore Angel Smith Angel Smith PG Woodbridge | 2026 State NJ and her 20+ppg, 3+apg and 3+spg. Senior Aliyah Folarin Aliyah Folarin 5'8" | PF Woodbridge | 2024 State NJ and her 10+ppg and 9+rpg is making an impact inside.
JP Stevens is another unbeaten at 2-0 and led by Katherine Bogutsky Katherine Bogutsky 5'6" | SG J.P. Stevens | 2024 State NJ who averages 21ppg, 10rpg, 3+spg and 3apg. Senior Trisha Nair Trisha Nair CG J.P. Stevens | 2024 NJ is adding to the success with 15+ppg, 6rpg and 2+apg.
Janaya Meyers Janaya Meyers 5'8" | SG Bayonne | 2025 State NJ and McKenzie Neal McKenzie Neal 6'3" | C Bayonne | 2025 State NJ are back for the defending Group 4 State Champs of Bayonne High School and the Bees are picking up where they left off with a 3-0 start. Meyers averages 11+ppg, 7+rpg, 4apg and 2+spg while Neal is averaging 12ppg and 5+rpg. A hotly anticipated 12/22 matchup with division rival and the team they took down in the Group 4 Semifinals is on tap when they play Union City and senior Jaylyn Orefice Jaylyn Orefice 5'9" | SF Union City | 2024 State NJ who just scored her 1,000th career point.
Senior Yamileth Flores Yamileth Flores SG Memorial | 2024 NJ has Memorial HS at 4-0 leading the team with 13+ppg, 4+rpg and 2+spg. On 1/6 they play nearby and also undefeated 4-0 division rival Hoboken who is led by Emma Conway Emma Conway 5'8" | SF Hoboken | 2026 State NJ and her 18+ppg and 8+rpg.
Mia Pauldo Mia Pauldo 5'7" | CG Morris Catholic | 2025 State NJ and Mya Pauldo Mya Pauldo 5'7" | CG Morris Catholic | 2025 State NJ have led Morris Catholic, widely considered the top team in NJ, to a 3-0 start. Mia is leading with 20+ppg, 4+apg and 2spg while Mya 11+ppg and 7+apg. This team has great depth with Manhattan commit Alexis Rosenfeld Alexis Rosenfeld 6'2" | C Morris Catholic | 2024 State NJ and freshman Jacqueline Edelman Jacqueline Edelman 6'0" | SG Morris Catholic | 2027 State NJ . USC Upstate commit Madison Miller Madison Miller 6'3" | C Morris Catholic | 2024 State NJ has not played yet while sophomore Kennedy Brown Kennedy Brown 5'8" | CG Morris Catholic | 2026 State NJ is averaging 11+ppg.
Maya Summerville Maya Summerville 6'0" | SF Morristown | 2024 State NJ is leading Morristown who is undefeated start atop the deep NJAC American division with 9+ppg, 10+rpg, 3+spg and 3apg. She is making a run at 1,000 career points. Morristown faces a brutal 3 game stretch of St. Rose, IHA and Saddle River Day next week.
Sophia May is averaging 11+ppg, 8rpg and 4+apg while leading Newton to a 3-0 start. Right there with her is junior Caitlyn Pokrywa Caitlyn Pokrywa PF Newton | 2026 State NJ who is averaging 11ppg and 5+rpg.
Harper Felch Harper Felch 5'9" | PG Morris Tech | 2024 State NJ is 1 of a trio of double-digit scorers for 2-0 Morris Tech. Harper is averaging 20+ppg, 3spg and 2+apg. Senior Courtni Vnencak is averaging 16+ppg and junior Hadley Padfield is averaging 10ppg and 2+spg.
Lia Manuel Lia Manuel 5'7" | PG Mendham | 2024 State NJ is where it all starts for Mendham. She can get after it at both ends and their 4-0 start is mainly attributed to her 20ppg, 4+rpg, 2+apg and 2+spg. She’s not alone as Halle Ferrara Halle Ferrara 5'10" | SF Mendham | 2025 State NJ is adding 11+ppg to the success of the Minutemen.
Mia Vergel de Dios Mia Vergel de Dios 5'8" | PG Glen Rock | 2026 State NJ and Glen Rock are 3-0 and have made an early splash with a signature win over Pascack Valley. Mia is averaging 12ppg while Maggie Harris Maggie Harris SF Glen Rock | 2024 NJ is averaging 11+ppg.
Gina Minichiello Gina Minichiello 5'7" | PG Hasbrouck Heights | 2027 State NJ leads Hasbrouck Heights at 3-0 with 15+ppg, 6+apg and 5rpg. Also leading the charge are Samantha Russo with 14+ppg and 7+rpg as well as Paige Sonzogni Paige Sonzogni 5'10" | SF Bogota | 2025 NJ at 10+ppg.
Katie Reiner Katie Reiner 5'8" | SG Becton | 2025 State NJ is the engine for Becton HS. She averages 19ppg, 6+rpg and 2+spg for the Wildcats and is only 56 points away from 1,000 as a junior. Chrissy Akiki Chrissy Akiki PG Becton | 2025 State NJ and her 13ppg and 2+spg are giving Becton a two-headed monster.
Skyla Acosta Skyla Acosta 5'10" | C North Arlington | 2024 State NJ and her 10+ppg and 12+rpg lead North Arlington who is 4-0. Lia Cruz Lia Cruz SG North Arlington | 2024 State NJ is averaging 13+ppg and 2+spg as North Arlington awaits undefeated division rival Secaucus on 1/5.
Allie Shenloogian Allie Shenloogian 5'7" | CG Park Ridge | 2025 State NJ is where it begins and ends for Park Ridge. With 27+ppg, 7rpg, 4+spg and 2+apg the Owls look to fly back the North 1 Group 1 Sectional Championship on Allie’s wings who went over 1,000 in game 1 of this, her junior, season.
Nila Giraud Nila Giraud 6'0" | PF Montclair Immaculate | 2025 State NJ has led a deep Montclair Immaculate team to a 4-0 start with 17+ppg, 11rpg and 2+apg. Also contributing to the undefeated start are Mia Lewis Mia Lewis CG Montclair Immaculate | 2024 State NJ with her 15+ppg, 5+spg and 2+apg and Brenae Jones Brenae Jones 6'1" | C Montclair Immaculate | 2024 State NJ with 12+ppg, 10+rpg, 5+spg, 2+apg and 2+bpg.
Kayla Butler Kayla Butler 5'7" | SF Payne Tech | 2025 State NJ with 24+ppg, 10+rpg, 6+spg and 5+apg and Jordan Owens Jordan Owens 5'7" | SF Payne Tech | 2025 State NJ with 20+ppg, 7+rpg and 2spg are the reasons Payne Tech sits at 3-0.
Sophomore Jada Bednar Jada Bednar PF Verona | 2026 State NJ leads a balanced 3-0 Verona attack with 9+ppg, 5+rpg, 3apg and 2+spg.
Katherine Avecillas-Macgregor leads 3-0 Belleville with 9ppg, 6apg, 5+rpg, 4+spg and 2bpg.
Ariel Walker Ariel Walker 6'0" | PF North Star Academy | 2024 State NJ is averaging 18ppg and 8rpg. Abria Robinson Abria Robinson 5'5" | PG North Star Academy | 2024 NJ is averaging 10+ppg and 8+spg. Genesis Mack is averaging 10ppg and North Star Academy is 3-0.
Riley O’Sullivan Riley O’Sullivan 6'2" | PF Glen Ridge | 2025 State NJ averages 13ppg, 12+rpg, 3spg and 2+apg and leads Glen Ridge who is 3-0 after a 24-5 season and an appearance in the North 2 Group 1 Championship last year. Also leading the way are Katie Powers Katie Powers 5'9" | PG Glen Ridge | 2025 State NJ with 10+ppg, 5apg and 4+spg along with Allison Snyder Allison Snyder 5'11" | PF Glen Ridge | 2026 State NJ averaging 10+ppg, 4+rpg, 3+apg, 3+bpg and 2spg.
UConn commit Gandy Malou-Mamel Gandy Malou-Mamel 6'6" | C Gill St. Bernard's | 2025 State NJ is leading 3-0 Gil St. Bernard’s with 17+ppg, 12rpg and 3+bpg. This is a talented starting 5 with BU commit Brooke Baisley Brooke Baisley 5'10" | SF Gill St. Bernard's | 2024 State NJ averaging 14ppg, 7+rpg and 3+spg. PG Tessa Lozner Tessa Lozner 5'7" | PG Gill St. Bernard's | 2025 State NJ averages 10ppg and 8apg.
Brooke Cooper is averaging 14ppg and Jamaiya McLeod averages 11+ppg, 9+rpg, 2+apg and 2+spg as Bound Brook HS sits at 3-0.
Jordyn Jefferson Jordyn Jefferson SG Peddie | 2026 NJ and her 19ppg and 9rpg have led Pingry to a 2-0 start with Taylor Francis Taylor Francis 5'8" | SG Pingry | 2025 State NJ 13+ppg and 5spg along with Ngozi Nnaeto Ngozi Nnaeto 5'10" | C Pingry | 2024 State NJ 10+ppg, 9+rpg, 7+spg and 2apg aiding the cause.
Christina Sullivan Christina Sullivan SF Voorhees | 2025 State NJ of 2-0 Voorhees is the leader with 15+ppg and 7+rpg.
Ma’Ziyah Richards Ma’Ziyah Richards 5'7" | SG Plainfield | 2024 State NJ with 20+ppg, 8+rpg, 5spg and 2+apg along with Imani Mullings Imani Mullings 5'5" | CG Plainfield Academy For The Art And Advanced Studies | 2026 State NJ with 13+ppg, 5+spg, 4+apg and 4rpg are the big reasons Plainfield is off to a 3-0 start.
Annie Conover Annie Conover SF New Providence | 2026 State NJ , Grace Kinum Grace Kinum PG New Providence | 2024 State NJ and Brenna Slattery Brenna Slattery SF New Providence | 2025 State NJ are back for the defending Group 2 State Champs and 2-0 New Providence Pioneers. Conover leads with 18+ppg, 3spg and 2+apg along with Kinum’s 15+ppg, 7+apg, 7rpg and 3+spg as well as Slattery’s 11ppg.
Have a great Week 2 ladies.